The poor, neglected performers of No 1 hit records will finally get their due. The Official Charts Company has announced a new prize for artists who top the singles charts. "Until now," explained a charts spokesman, "[bands] have never had a tangible reminder of this achievement."

The trophy will finally vindicate blockbuster acts who felt neglected after selling hundreds of thousands of records. "It means everything for an artist to get a No 1 single," explained singer Olly Murs, who has previously nabbed three. "Now for there to be an award for it, that will be even better."

Unfortunately for Murs, prizes are not being handed out to previous chart-toppers. The trophies will only be awarded starting Christmas Day, to mark the charts' 60th anniversary. Which means even Little Mix – who narrowly outsold Murs and Coldplay this week – might forfeit the chance for a shiny doodah. This year's X Factor champions had the lowest-selling single of any winner since 2004, and bookmakers are now favouring the festive chances of Gareth Malone's choir of military wives .

If the servicemen's wives do score the UK's next No 1, it's not clear whether each of them will receive a charts trophy or just their choirmaster. Reggie Yates and Greg James will give out the prize on BBC Radio 1's Official Charts Show on Christmas Day.